The Great Rivers Greenway will hold a groundbreaking celebration at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 29 for improvements to the west side of the site.
The Route 66 Association of Missouri several days ago emailed its members, informing them about the event at 10840 Riverview Drive in St. Louis (map here).
The forthcoming improvements by the greenway have been planned and designed for three years.
Great Rivers Greenway maintains the bridge and area around the bridge on the Missouri side. The site hosts community programs and events such as Eagle Days, Chain of Rocks Car Shows, and numerous runs, bike rides, and historic Route 66 tours. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is the northern anchor for the Mississippi Greenway: Riverfront Trail that extends south to the Arch.
The focus of this new vision for the site includes security, natural features, and amenities for daily use and special events.
Although the site was covered with debris from demolished buildings more than forty years ago, natural habitats have returned to the site since then. There is an early successional forest on the site with short-lived trees that are not yet part of a functioning ecosystem. Areas of the site with possible summer bat habitat and low invasive species will be protected.
Throughout 2019, neighbors and stakeholders shared ideas on what will bring people to this site on an ongoing basis and improve safety and security. These ideas were used to create a concept plan in 2020.
The greenway received a $990,000 grant from the National Park Service for the project. Construction may begin as soon as December but is more likely to commence in early 2023.
The additional security enhancements especially will be welcomed. Route 66 travelers for years have been discouraged from parking on the St. Louis side to visit the bridge because of vehicle break-ins.
The greenway provided a list of coming features for the west side of the bridge:
Security
- Gated entrance
- Staff on site during peak hours
- Fence around site
- Lighting in the parking lot
- Video surveillance cameras
- Emergency phone
Natural features
- Restoration of wetlands and woodlands that provide food and shelter for native wildlife on site, including migratory birds
- New 1.5-acre reconstructed prairie
- Permeable parking lot pavement and rain gardens to reduce stormwater runoff from the site
- Nature trail through native habitats
- Signs around the site explaining native habitats and nature-based stormwater management
Amenities for daily use and special events
- Permeable parking lot and overflow grass lot
- Shade structure with picnic benches, portable restroom and artwork reflecting the nature, culture and history of the area
- Drinking fountain
- Direct walking and biking access to the historic bridge with a river overlook
- Event lawn and food truck area with water and electricity for community events
The 5,300-foot-long bridge, built in 1929, contains a 22-degree bend in the middle. The nearby New Chain of Rocks Bridge that carries Interstate 270 opened in 1966, and the older bridge closed four years later.
The bridge was used in a scene of 1983’s “Escape from New York.” It appeared the span would be demolished, but the costs of doing so were too prohibitive.
In 1998, Trailnet leased the bridge and spent $4.5 million to shore it up for cycling and pedestrian use.
(Image of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and water intake tower No. 2 by cmh2315fl via Flickr)
A good outcome?